One of the most iconic esports teams, is bidding farewell. Evil Geniuses are shutting down.
CEO Chris DeAppolonio announced it and posted to the organisation’s site and X. He stated,
“Esports continues to face significant headwinds, including limited sponsorship and the rising cost of competing at the top level,” he wrote. “Despite sustained investment, it’s been concluded that the business cannot be operated responsibly.”
He also described the preceding rebuild era: stabilising operations, restoring public sentiment, growing engagement and output, expanding into new titles, building a creator roster. All of it, by his own account, insufficient against the revenue side.
The timing nobody can ignore
EG was not selected as a partner for Valorant’s, which would means no Riot financial backing.
DeAppolonio attributes the closure to broader financial pressure. But for an organisation whose biggest recent trophy came in Valorant, losing a partner slot in a partnered league is not a small thing either.
What happens to the people
Every player across every roster is free to talk to other organisations immediately. Valorant players and coaches can sign on 2 November, when the season ends, which is the same day EG stops operating.
DeAppolonio asked anyone hiring to contact them, and said he would personally vouch for every player, creator and staff member, and help as many as possible find roles over the coming months.
He stated “To everyone who has ever worn the EG logo, to the fans who kept showing up, and to the partners who supported this org over the last 25+ years: thank you for everything.”
What’s ending
Founded in 1999 on Vancouver Island by five Quake players. Counter-Strike division was announced on 2001.
The International 2015, with over six million dollars in prize money and a 16-year-old SumaiL who remains the youngest TI winner. Valorant Champions 2023, North America’s first world title in the game, with Ethan on the roster. LCS Spring 2022. Call of Duty titles. Fighting game championships with SonicFox.
The Counter-Strike story is the one that captures the decline best. EG returned in September 2019 by buying NRG’s roster, won ESL One New York days later beating Astralis 3-1 in the final, added StarSeries i-League Season 8, and reached world number one.
Eighteen players and ten coaches passed through the main roster across four years. The Blueprint project, a 15-man development system meant to revive North American talent, never produced a competitive lineup.
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